My dreams fluttered from fascinating, to alluring, to savory and then beautiful. I loved it all. But no matter how much I longed to remain in this fantasy, wake had to come.

I'd never felt such peace as I had the previous night. But someone special had cultured my troubled heart to this way. Rina. My dearest Rina.

I peeled my eyes open gradually. My sight shifted from blur to clarity. Thoughts of my dizzying flung in. I had fallen fast into unconsciousness. It had felt strange. But this thought wasn't needful now...so I banished it!

I turned around to the woman who had shared bed with me at night. I reached for her and turned her to myself. But I was struck with the widest shock of the day.

The slender body curled at my touch. Skin glowed lovely amber. Onyx eyes shone brilliantly. But this beauty was not my Rina.

I sprang out from the bed and lurched for the closest weapon. Seizing the death piece, I addresses the strange woman with blade pointed to her jocular.
"Who are you?" I frowned. She shifted nervously. "Where is Rina? Speak quick or die." I threatened.

"Puncturing through me wouldn't give you answers."

"Yet it would seal your doom for eternity."

"Same doom would be yours. Do you hope to leave this lands with your life after spilling my blood." She told with strong confidence now.

"Enough of this nonsense," I barked. "How did you come here? Who are you?"

"I'm Lyra," she told. "It was Rina. She let me in herself."

"Let you in?" I exclaimed, drawing back the threat in hand slowly."What for? Where is she?"

"She left. I don't know where to."

"Nonsense," I huffed. "She can't be gone."
Suddenly, a strange thought struck me as I saw how dressed the woman was.

"Di- di- Did I touch you?" I  stuttered to let out the words.

"I saw you fight in the circle, and from that moment I took interest in you. So when Rina came to us -- I and my sisters, seeking someone who could tend you against your fever through the night, I volunteered. And yes, last night was interesting, beyond just a touch." She smiled. "You seem fully recovered." He smile broadened.

"Preposterous," I sighed at the woman's last word.

Fever! The strange feeling of the night couldn't have been as a result of a fever. Although I did feel strange, yet a mere cup of ale couldn't have conquered me quickly to drunkenness. I will deal with this later.

I rushed away from the bed gathering my littered cloths.

"Where are you going?" Lyra's airy voice sang through the room.

I turned to her. She was a serene woman, and a beauty. But she was not the woman I saw in my dreams. Her beauty didn't matter.

"I am going out to make sense of all this nonsense," I frowned. "I shall deal with you when am back." The last blade fit into its void before I turned away.

Pulling the flap, I stepped out of the tent strongly. The beautiful sky and the running breeze welcomed me out. I took in the sight of the inhabitation as I moved. I did miss such kind of view!

I weaved myself through the strategized structures of huts and tents in varying sizes. Their were very few men around. Of course most of them had gone hunting. It was the clan way after all!

Women and their daughters were at their morning chores -- getting water and fuel woods, and in fact preparing breakfast. Most houses heated with the warm aroma of steaming meal. My stomach rumbled strangely at the savor.

Boys ran hitter titer the camp. Others played spar with sticks or wooden sword. It was essential for them. It would turn them eventually to formidable warriors.

But they all considered my presence as I walked with amusement. Some did in fact point at me and whisper cheerfully to themselves. I knew why. It was all about the fight in the circle.

The sight of a familiar face warmed my panicky heart. I remembered the warrior to be by Darka's side.

He smiled as he approached me.
"Greetings," he bowed. I nodded warmly in reverence. "I am Kade, and I have been asked to come escort you."

"Escort!" I exclaimed with confusion.

"O no, there isn't any problem," he smiled. My racing heart calmed down a bit. "Commander Darka felt you might be interested in joining the hunting party. Since Rina said you would be staying in the camp longer, he believed your presence in the hunt and training ground would inspire the men."

Now this was getting very interesting.

"Slow down." I halted the younger warrior. "Rina said what? Where is she?"

"She is gone already. The commander charged an escort of fifteen strong with her."

Fifteen! I mentally exclaimed. Fifteen fighting men out of this inhabitation was such a number to give freely. Was she even safe?

"But when?"

"Very early," a new voice intruded from behind. I and the warrior turned around to behold an older figure. The woman had a tanned  skin and a rather unkempt appearance. "They left very early this morning, before the sun had sprung out....Victor of the Vicious Game."

I looked at the woman with confusion. How did she know that eulogized name of mine. I had told no one of it. Besides I was very far from home.

"Give no ears to the woman," Kade hissed. "She is a troubled one."

"Troubled one," she huffed. "If my foretelling is trouble, wait and see what he brings for the man he seeks." She pointed to me with amused eyes.

I understood now. She was a Seer.

"Leave now Andra, or I shall be forced to report you to Darka."

If the woman heard any of the young warriors words, she gave no response.

"I have never seen a man fight as you did before. Indeed the heavens have favored you...son of Dun, Conqueror of..."

"How do you know me?" I halted her before she could make the word. Such credit as that which she purposes to spill shouldn't be spelt out loud to the hearings of all.

"I see things. Past, present, future. Perhaps it has been my life's struggle -- my trouble." She smiled softly.
"But I have never seen a man whose destiny has been so perfectly crafted by the gods. At last, they have made a decision for you by separating you from Rina."

I frowned at her word.
"What are you saying."

"Rina. Beautiful, mild, yet mysterious. You know this yourself."
When I remained silent, she pressed on.
"Rina would only drag you deeper away from your destiny. Their is a rising tide in the North -- your home. Fortune strides forth. Your arch enemy would be present...and by good will your mindless quest would seize with his life in your hands."

My eyes widened with longing at her words. Kade remained silent with blur understanding. But I was comprehending -- all of it. She was preaching my triumph against Dakor.

"But," Andra's voice tore in again. "This would be the ending road for your descent. Deep South holds nothing but twist and more mindless adventures. In the North is your destiny defined." Her disposition was still mild, and her smile unfading.

Unlike her, their was nothing to be amused in all her foretelling. My heart faced the greatest conflict ever -- the same I had had to deal with since the spring of Rina...except this one was far greater.

My glory was Dakor. My heart was Rina. Two contrasting worlds. Two contrasting destinies. But I knew what my heart wanted. Their was no denying it that now.

"What is destiny if it isn't shared with love? What is my destiny if Rina is absent in it?"

"Young one. The passion again. You became closely attached to the woman, as you had before. Did you remember it? Your first love...how you first met?"

I stiffened at her words.

"Her clad fell down her face and for the first time ever you had seen the most adorable being. A desire was sparked in you, as feared by the gods. Do you remember how it ended for you?"

My being felt numb. This woman was seeing through me as a reflection. Parts of me I had shaded for a while...she shed light of memory on them all.

"Beneath the shower of the moon, in the unending night, you had to contend other champions for her as prize. But that game wasn't yours to be played nor won. Your misguided decision almost cost you your life. At last the mercy of the gods held you on when you were but a breath to the afterlife. Do you remember?"

I couldn't speak. Truth were in her every word. I couldn't answer. Which would I answer even?

"It is the same feeling that tempts your sole. Purge yourself of this conflict and grasp your destiny. Everyone comes to this earth alone. Everyone has his distinct part to play -- his destiny to fulfil on this earth. You always knew your passion was your ruin"

Wrong. Her last word I refuted strongly. My passion had bore me ill choices, but it had at least crafted my name through the Northern lands of our Oak realm. I wouldn't accept it as my ultimate failings.

"You speak of my passion like it were a curse, but it has been my driving force ever. The gods had no hand in my victory at the Vicious Game. I fought my way back to life."

"But at what cause?" Her smile had at last faded. "It blinded you to the greatest error of a lifetime, one that has hunted you ever since."
I tensed at her words. Verity lat strongly in them, yet...

"Do you believe in fate and divine will, Kade?" I turned to the quiet warrior.

He smiled shyly, then answered.
"Of course."

"Its why you would never be heard of beyond this land. I don't believe in preordination or Divine will. I believe a man is who he is by choice. I believe we craft our own destinies by ourselves -- through our resolves and actions. Its the same way I have crafted mine." I smirked.

"Young one..."

"No Andra. I respect your words a lot, but the gods don't have say over my life. They lost that position a long time. I on the other hand am master to my ways and destiny. And my passion; it is what drives me unto achievement. And now, my new found passion is South."
I smiled as an understanding I lacked for a long time washed upon me.

"Heed my words young one. Deep South is full of darkness and mysteries. It hold nothing but twist and mindless adventures."

"Kade," I clapped my hand to the warrior beside me. "Inform Commander Darka that I am set to leave." I spoke with firm countenance. He nodded and disappeared in a breath.

Andra tried to speak further, but I sparred her no chance as I turned to leave. Not yet though...I turned back suddenly to her.

"Do you speak to the gods?"

Her surprise gaze glimmered first, before she spoke.
"No. I see and hear what the heavens wish me to."

A shame," I sighed with sarcasm. "I would have sent you a message to them."
I almost smirked as walked away, leaving g the Seer dumbfounded.

Too many drama in one day. This was nothing like the dreams I had awoken from. Every fantasy had stumbled before my eyes with a bitter crumbling thud.

"I'll fix it. All of it...as I have in time past."
I assured myself as I made for my tent.